Abstract P3-03-11: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Screening Mammography During COVID-19
Authors: Arissa Milton, Ryan Woods, Mai Elezaby, Kelly Hackett, Joan Neuner, Anand Narayan, Roberta Strigel
Journal: Cancer Research (2023)

Abstract Purpose: Studies conducted prior to COVID-19 suggested that racial/ethnic disparities in breast cancer screening percentages have substantially reduced over time. COVID-19 has had devastating effects on racial/ethnic minorities and resulted in delays in preventive breast cancer screening. Our purpose was to determine if racial/ethnic minorities were less likely to receive recommended breast cancer screening after the resumption of preventive care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: HIPAA-compliant, institutional review board exempt retrospective cohort study was performed at a multi-location academic medical center located in the Midwest. Patients included women aged 50-74 years old between June 2021 and May 2022, derived from the electronic medical records. Primary outcomes variables included receipt of screening mammogram within the last two years. Primary exposure variables included race (American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, Black or African American, White) and ethnicity (Hispanic/Latino, and Not Hispanic/Latino). Binary outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders (insurance, age, preferred language, employment status, rural status). Results: 37,509 female patients without histories of mastectomies were included (mean age 63.1). 73.8% of eligible patients received a mammogram within the last two years. By race, 74.7% of White patients, 57.6% of Black patients, 67.0% of Asian/Pacific Islander patients, and 60.1% of American Indian patients received a screening mammogram within the last two years. In our unadjusted analyses, Black (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.52, p &amp;lt; 0.001), Asian (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.79, p &amp;lt; 0.001), and American Indian patients (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.66, p &amp;lt; 0.001) were less likely to receive recommended mammography screening. In our adjusted analyses, Black (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.61, p &amp;lt; 0.001), Asian (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.92, p = 0.003), and American Indian patients (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.82, p = 0.001) were less likely to receive recommended mammography screening. By ethnicity, 74.1% of Non-Hispanic patients and 64.2% of Hispanic patients received a screening mammogram within the last two years. In our unadjusted analyses, Hispanic patients (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.71, p &amp;lt; 0.001) were less likely to receive recommended mammography screening. In our adjusted analyses, Hispanic patients (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.08, p = 0.338) were comparably likely to receive recommended mammography screening. Patients with non-English preferred languages, uninsured or Medicaid patients, and patients living in rural areas were less likely to receive recommended mammography screening (p &amp;lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Racial/ethnic minority patients were less likely to receive recommended cancer screening after the resumption of preventive breast cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Targeted outreach efforts are required to ensure equitable access to breast cancer screening for racial/ethnic minorities, patients with non-English preferred languages, uninsured, Medicaid, and rural patients. Citation Format: Arissa Milton, Ryan Woods, Mai Elezaby, Kelly Hackett, Joan Neuner, Anand Narayan, Roberta Strigel. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Screening Mammography During COVID-19 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2022 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(5 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-03-11.